Improvement in reaping and mowing machines



NITED STATI-:s

PATENT rrtcat C. MOUL, 0F HANOVER, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN REAPING AND MowINc MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 20.887, dated July 13,1853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that I, O. MOUL, of Hanover, in the county of York andState of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Reaping and Mowing Machines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which-Figure l represents a plan of a machine having. my improvement applied,and Fig. 2 aside elevation of the same.

My invention relates to a new and improved device for regulating andadjusting 'the height of the cut, and for instantaneously raising thecutting apparatus for the purpose ofsurmounting stumps, stones, andother obstacles, which may suddenlyr present themselves in the path ofthe machine, hv means of which serious damage to the machine isprevented, without the necessity of its being turned out of its direct.-path to avoid the obstacle. The means 'which I have devised to effectthese objects in a simple, easy, and electual manner consist inconnecting the rear end ofthe truck-frame, when the latter is arrangedin front and on one side ofthe machine, and suitably pivoted for thispurpose to the main frame ot' the machine, to the short arm of a leverhaving its fulcrum on the Inain frame, and arranging in front ofthetruck a Caster-wheel in such manner that as the lever is depressed itwill cause the truck-frame to turn on its pivot, depressing its lI'ontend, and thereby raisingl the front part ofthe machine or cuttingapparatus, and

vice versa.

1n order to maintain the cutter-bar at the required elevation from theground, an inverted rack or other suitable devIce is so arranged as toengage with the rear arm of the lever for the purpose of retaining thelatter in the required position.

To enable others skilled in the art to make, construct, and use myimprovement, l will now proceed to describe it in detail, omitting tledescription ot' such parts ot' a harvesIing-Inachine as are notessential to the full understanding of my present improvement.

ln the accompanying drawings, the main frame of the machine, on whichthe gearing parts are to be supported, is represented as consisting oftwo parallel main bars, A and A', lirmly bolted and braced together infront and rear by means of cross-bars B and C. These main bars areprovided with suitable bearin gs,

| D, for the reception ofthe axle ofthe drivingwheel E. To this mainframe is firmly secured in any suitable manner, in front, the inner endofthe cutter-bar F, and in rear the bar or rail G, forming the rearportion ofthe frame.

Between the bars A and A', at their front end, is pivoted by means ofahorizontal bolt, a, a block or beam, H, which constitutes thetruck-frame.

At one end of the block H that is to say, at the front end, isformed avertical bearing, through which is passed and properly secured arevolving arm, I, mounted on the frame ofa small caster-wheel, L, and atthe other endthat is to say, at the rear end-the block is connected bymeans ot' Aa'rod or -connectinglink, b, with the short arm c'of a lever,H, whose fulcruIn d is formed on a standard, M, which, in this instance,is mounted on and secured tothe cross-bar B, and whose other arm,

,extends backward to a point within convenientreach ofthe drivers seat.(Not represented in the drawings.)

0n the bar A, at a place near the rear end ot' the lever, is erected, inthis instance, an inverted rack., N, so arranged in relation to thelever that the rear end ofthe latter will engage withtheindentationsbrmed on the rack for the purpose ot' maintaining thelever in the required position.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that by depressingthe rear or long arm of the lever as its` front or short arm is lIftedup. it will cause the truck-frame to turn on its pivot-that is to say,the truck-trame will be brought in an inclined plane, the rear endelevated and the front depressed. This, as it brings the casterwheelnearer to the Inachine, causes it to raise or lift up the pivotpoint ofthe truck-frame, thereby elevating the u hole front end ofthe machine,and vice versa.

Having thus fully described Iny improvement, what l claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent', is

The combination of the truck-frame H, caster-wheel L, and lever K, thewhole being arranged and operated in the manner and for the purposessubstantially as set forth.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand.

o. MOUL.

' Witnesses:

P. HANNAY, W. LESKI.

